The first dentists to graduate from the James Cook University have officially celebrated the end of their studies - and the start of their professional careers - at a ceremony in Cairns.

The dental school opened in Cairns in 2008 and is only one of three to be established outside of a capital city.

Professor Andrew Sandham says it was no coincidence the dental school was built in Far North Queensland and it's an experiment that's already paying dividends, with almost half the first cohort of graduates planning to practice in rural and remote areas.

"The waiting lists for dentistry were enormous in this part of the world, and the admissions to hospitals for children, the majority of those admissions were for dental reasons, for general anaesthesia, for multiple extractions, so this is something we had to do something about."

As the dental school's head led his 53 young charges in their oath, the significance of the contribution each of them will make during the professional careers was not lost on their mentor.

"Six years ago, I stood in a green field and now we've actually produced something," Professor Sandham says. "So it's like my extended family because we've been really pioneers in terms of what we're been trying to do."

Six years ago, I stood in a green field and now we've actually produced something.... we've been really pioneers in terms of what we're been trying to do.

Professor Andrew Sandham, head of the JCU dental school in Cairns

Declan Collins and CJ Richter are just two of the dentists who have chose to start their careers in the bush; they're heading to Barcaldine and Goondiwindi. Others in the graduating group are bound for Alice Springs, Stanthorpe, St George, Tully and Proserpine.

And while once being 'posted' to such far-flung locations would be regarded as something a young graduate had to do, they're clear it's where they want to be.

"It's a different sort of work. It's really the people who haven't had access to good dental care for so long and the work we do is so beneficial to the community and we can see the changes that we make," CJ explained.

Declan Collins couldn't be happier to be heading to a small western Queensland town that's been without a dentist.

He says the rural placements and clinical experience gained at JCU have equipped him and his cohorts for the challenges ahead.

"It's been a really good road and I've enjoyed going out to really smaller communities, even smaller than Barccy, for the experience and just seeing what it's like and seeing the passion of the health workers that are out there and hopefully try to incorporate that into my own work."

"Even when we were just doing placements in Mackay, we cut their waiting lists from three years to nine months. So if that's the effect we can have as students, it's a good indication that we can have an even bigger effect as proper clinicians out in the world.

"So I'm looking forward to it and I'm sure we can make a difference out there."